Lucky 13: Ateneo spikers sweep Spikers' Turf

MANILA, Philippines -- For some, 13 is an unlucky number.

Not for Ateneo coach Oliver Almandro.

Ateneo capped its historic 13-game sweep of the Spikers' Turf Season 1-Collegiate Conference with a 25-23, 25-21, 38-40, 25-19 victory over National University Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City.

"I guess 13 is a lucky number for us," said Almandro, who steered Ateneo to the title in the last UAAP season.

Ateneo also emerged the first champion of the first ever Collegiate Conference of the league's very first season.

"For me, it's a big thing because this is the inaugural season of Spikers' Turf so I guess we made history," said Almandro.

Marck Espejo came through with a clutch performance ashe fired a match-best 24 hits, 18 of which came on attacks including the championship-clinching kill that completed the Eagles' two-game final sweep of the Bulldogs.
Espejo

, who had nine hits in a 25-17, 25-18, 25-19 win in Game One a week back, was named Finals MVP to add to his Conference MVP trophy.

"I dedicate all the invidual awards I received to the team because I wouldn't have won any of these if they're not there to help me," said Espejo, who is also the reigning back-to-back UAAP MVP.

Rex Intal scattered 16 after leading the team with 15 in Game One whiole Joshua Alexis Miguel Villanueva and Ysay Marasigan chipped in 12 and 11, respectively.

Bryan Bagunas led the Bulldogs with 22 but his star shone the brightest in the third set when they fought several championship points to steal the set to stay alive.

It turned out NU's last as Espejo, Intal and Marasigan took over from there.